After leaving behind Mainland Shetland and Scotland last night, we sailed through somewhat choppy seas and arrived at Tvøroyri on Suðuroy Island in the Faroe Islands this morning. About halfway between Scotland and Iceland, the Faroe Islands are a small archipelago comprised of 18 islands in the Norwegian Sea. The islands are characterized by a windy, wet, and cold climate, and today we got a taste of the winds that howl through this region. Although officially part of the Kingdom of Norway, the islands have been self-governing since 1948.
Our afternoon was comprised of a variety of activities dedicated to exploring Suðuroy Island, including a hike up Hvannhagi that offered great views of the town of Tvøroyri. Others took a scenic bus tour with a few key stops. Eventually, they made it all the way to the southern end of the island to the dramatic sea cliffs near Akraberg.
Of particular interest was a stop in the town of Porkeris to visit a traditional church that has a grass roof and an all-wood interior. The church, which seats 150, was built in 1847 and features outstanding craftsmanship. We learned that it was built as a donation to God by distressed sailors.
We made another stop to appreciate the dramatic sea cliffs found throughout the archipelago. At Beinisvørð, we took a careful look over the edge of a nearly 500-meter cliff down into the sea. It was quite an impressive view, and we got a firsthand taste of the strong winds that come through this region.
Our last stop was to Akraberg, where we viewed another dramatic landscape and also got a glimpse of the lighthouse that marks the southernmost part of the Faroe Islands.
We are all looking forward to another two full days exploring the Faroe Islands.
